Role of phytochemicals in eliciting longevity genes

Abstract

Phytochemicals are diverse secondary metabolites derived from plants, and it has been proven that phytochemicals can extend longevity by evolutionarily conserved mechanisms. The positive impact of dietary phytochemicals on overall health and longevity has been studied extensively over the past decade. The emerging role of phytochemicals as an effector of metabolic and longevity signals offers new therapeutic perspectives. In this regard, we will discuss the role of phytochemicals in eliciting the longevity genes and also the various mechanisms involved. This review will give a broad outline of how different phytochemicals modulate signaling pathways that modulate the expression of specific set of genes. This review will also highlight the most exciting perspective for research in the future in this rapidly developing field of signaling pathways which include the genes encoding heat shock protein, genes responsible for the antioxidant response, genes involved in metabolism, etc. and are crucial for the phytochemicals to elicit longevity.